St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-17
A Claim Made That the Al
lance Wants to Control
the Next Election.
A Few Remarks Regarding the
Ambition of George G.
Crosse, of Highmore.
The Work Of the Aberdeen
Convention --Springer's
Letter a Surprise.
from tho clobe,s Sneciol Contribution

WATERFOWL, OAK, Dec. 16.-On the
way to the Aberdeen convention L
stopped off at Huron two days to take in
the annual meeting of the Dakota
Farmers alliance. The society of the
Dakota horticulturistS was also in
session at the same time. These two
bodies were made up of representative
men of their classes, and they made an
appearance that was no discredit to
them. 1t is seldom that tiner-lOoking
body of men gets together. They have
that solid, substantial, earne st look
about them that betOkenS business, but
honest, straightforward business. They
met at Huron for purpose, and of this
there can be no doubt. That purpose,
to express it in broad terms, was to in
crease their organization: but, to put 1t
more tersely, it was, in the words of one
of its vice presidents: I'VE are here for
the purpose of making such prepare
tons and laying such plans that we can
control the next legislature. l think
that this is possible. We have the num-
beers, and all that is lacking is the organ
iZation and we propose to furnish that"
These are the words of brave man.
That any organization can control the
next legislature of Dakota is no small
matter. But if any body of men can ac-
complish it, it ought to be that body
that has the numbers to poll the votes
to elect the men that will do it. But to
me. to speak the words of truth, it seems
easier for few powerful corporations,
such as the railroads, to handle them
selves in such a way as to manipulate
the legislatures than for a great body OF
men, scattered, that fear each other and
diStrust their abilities, so to combine as
to have any great influence. 1t may be
that the Farmers alliance will control
the next legislature, but L doubt 1t.
That it is possible no one can deny.
That they will have considerable intiu-
ence is quiet likely.
1t NAV be of interest to go little into
the detail of this organization. known
as the Farmers alliance, who are the
men that are back of it and other such
items as determine the character of it.
The organization is not very old. This
is only its third annual convention.
During its existence Ii. L. LOuckS, of
Clear Lake. has been its president. He
is Il fairly representative man OF the
alliance. With considerable ability,
pleasing address and honesty of pur-
pose. he made the alliance the success
that it is. and it is largely due to him,
as far as it can be due to one man, that
it commands the influence to-day that
it does. Of course, he has had able
assistants and cO-WOrkerS that have
brought about the total result. Among
them may be mentioned the territorial
lecturer, A. ID. Chase, of WatertOWn.
Mir. Chase is a plain farmerSort of a
I ,tnlv hQ
impresses one, as he is, as being honest,
before him. Another one of the
prominent workers is Secretary
Soderburg. The Alliance has been
extremely lucky i'll selecting its
officers. They are all very much alike,
that is the same class of men, at the
same time they are different. President
Loucks is like a well-to-dO English
farmer, Lecturer Chase is like well-tO-
do Yankee farmer, and Secretary Sober
berg may be called Dakota farmer.
At the same time he represents the
foreign population in Dakota for he is
Swede by birth.
THERE IS NO BETTER,
more honest or capable man for his
work, in Dakota, than Secretary Solder
berg. He is very much interested in the
work and works for the love of it-nOt
for any revenue that there is in it. 1t
would be difficult to select a more capa-
bic or trustworthy man for the place.
| am personally acquainted with these
men and know whereof | speak. They
are all conservative thinking men and
the organization is safe in their hands.
Another prominent man among them is
George g. Crosse, of HighmOre, the
general adiuSter for their insurance
company. While / am the one, and the
only one who has brought Mr.. Crosse
forward prominently as candidate for
delegate, yet | know HIM well enough
to know that he is playing the part of
demagOgue with the alliance, that is, l
mean, that while he has much natural
ability and is all right in his place as adj
ulster, yet at the same time, it would
not do to trust him too far with the
leadership of the organization or the
moulding or forming of its opinions. He
wants to be watched, and it wants to
be seen that he does not make too much
use of his connection with the alliance,
to further his own political ends. | say
this candidly and honestly of Mr.. Crosse.
both for the associations good and for
his own good. Mr.. Crosse is very ambi-
tiOus and he wants to see that his ambi-
ton does not get away with him and
damage the alliance. The alliance
must be careful and not become pOllt-
zeal organization, for as soon as it does
its day is over, it loses its influence and
is of no further use. The alliance now
numbers over 5000 members in the ter
ritory alone, is constantly growing and it
may be expected to WELD no little
influence in making up the next legisla-
ture. Their plan of work is as follows,
which | have partly outlined in the
GLOBE before: The alliance laid down
a certain platform, which is found in
the GLOBES report of the convention
in full, and upon this platform every
candidate for the legislature will have
to stand in order to get their votes. 1t
does not make any difference to them
which party the candidate belongs to,
and if the candidates of both parties
pledge themselves to adopt the plat
form, then they are at liberty to take
their choice between the two, but in no
case are the members of the alliance to
vote for men who do not pledge them
selves to their platform. This, in short,
is their plan. In this way do they pro-
pose to control the next legislature.
They do not say that the majority of the
next legislature will be men who belong
to the alliance, but they do say that
they shall be men who favor
the principles of the alliance and
who will act upon them. Their plat
form, it seems to me in most particu-
lars, is fair and reasonable, and if it
does not accomplish its entire purpose,
it will at least have its influence. The
next legislature will be more of a
farmer legislature than if was last wear